Discover Osieczany: History and Stone Wayside Shrines

Osieczany brings together traces of local history, stone wayside figures and Józef Piłsudski Mound. Those choosing a destination with culture and hiking in mind can consider the village itself separately from the other attractions in the wider destination of Myślenice.

Wayside Chapel and Stone Figures in Osieczany

Osieczany is home to a brick wayside chapel dating from the 19th century. Inside is a statue depicting Christ falling under the cross; the depiction is associated with the year 1813. It is one of the specific historical details that reveal the village’s religious artistic tradition.

The stone wayside figures in Osieczany dating from the 1830s include a Pietà and a statue of Christ of Nazareth. There are also figures of the Virgin Mary, Saint Matthew and the Evangelist John. The different depictions invite visitors to pay attention to the individual figures and their subjects while taking in the village’s history.

Józef Piłsudski Mound

The five-metre-high Józef Piłsudski Mound was built between 1936 and 1939 at the initiative of local Legionnaire activists and the village youth. Stone steps lead to the top. At the summit stands a memorial stone bearing the inscription “Marszałkowi Józefowi Piłsudskiemu – młodzież z Osieczan 1936-1939” (To Marshal Józef Piłsudski – the youth of Osieczany 1936–1939); an information board stands beside the steps. The mound’s height, date of construction and inscription bring its history together in one place.

The village’s early history also reaches far back: Osieczany is one of the oldest settlements in the Myślenice region. Its first recorded mention dates from 1234. Together with the chapel, wayside figures and memorial site, this gives Osieczany a strong historical focus.

Hiking Trails in the Myślenice Destination

The wider destination of Myślenice features several hiking trails with stated distances and durations. The varying stage lengths help visitors gauge how much time a walk will take, without confusing these routes with the sights in Osieczany.

The yellow trail runs from Myślenice via Dalin and Pisania to Sułkowice. It is 13.5 kilometres long and takes 3 hours and 45 minutes. The red hiking trail from Myślenice via Działek, Kudłacze and Łysina to Jaworzyce covers 15.5 kilometres and is listed as taking 6 hours. Another red route runs from Myślenice via Sularzówka, Trzebuńska Góra, Babica, Bieńkowska Góra and Końcówka to Palcza. This 20.5-kilometre route has a stated duration of 5 hours and 45 minutes one way. These figures illustrate the difference between a shorter walk and a longer stage.

Culture and Attractions in Myślenice

The cultural sites in Myślenice form another distinct regional focus. The historic townscape is considered an example of a medieval town layout; remnants of a settlement that existed before the town was founded have also survived. The Church of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Myślenice was built in the mid-15th century and received an early Baroque chapel between 1642 and 1646. The sanctuary houses a miraculous image painted in Italy in the 16th century, which became the destination of numerous pilgrimages.

The main feast at the sanctuary takes place on 8 September. In addition, night-time Fatima devotions with vigils are held there on the 13th of each month from May to October. The Raba riverfront in Myślenice’s Zarabie district offers a different attraction: it has been transformed into a recreation park with numerous walking and cycling paths. On the circular route around Myślenice, the summit features an observation tower, a private astronomical observatory and the upper station of the ski lift, which has a restaurant currently in operation. This makes it possible to consider the historic town layout, religious culture and paths through the recreation area as distinct themes within the Myślenice destination.

Discover more destinations: Glichów, Wierzbanowa, Krzczonów, Sułkowice, Sieraków, Harbutowice, Wiśniowa, Głogoczów.

Back to the wider travel overview: Myślenice.